Saturday, September 1, 2012

August 30th, 2012 Long Beach, Long Island, New York – the First
Annual International Film Festival begins. A Celebration of Film in the
City by the Sea! I was delighted to be asked to attend this year’s Gala
event with my lovely wife Maria on the boardwalk & beach outside the
Allegria Hotel. Christine Longobardi-Lopez, President – Business
Development & Marketing Consultant offered an invite.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect until Thursday the 3oth. Coming
up the boardwalk at National Blvd. gave way to a vision to that of
Access Hollywood. Klieg lights flooded the Red carpet walkway for
festival attendees and stars. Donna Drake the evenings MC, welcomed
attendees who were decked out to the nines in evening formal wear. Donna
worked-the-walkway with her adept interviewing to keep things moving
along for the nights awards and film short features.

On the beach; a swath of white screen stretching 25 x 50 feet
appeared to be floating on the sea as the ultimate backdrop for the
nights chosen short films. Accented by a full Blue-Moon and the groove
sounds of Mark Shine’s Reggae playing. The Allegria Hotel generously
donated the use of all their lounges that dotted the shoreline with row
after row to conjure an almost Drive-In movie nuance! BTW, it was
rather cool to have the film’s sound trax complimented by the surf
gently coming in every 20 or so seconds – Nature’s White-Noise.

Hats-Off to Christine and all the crew for capturing the evening’s
sizzle, style and community presence. A daunting feat of coordinating
that came off without a hitch. The only thing missing maybe, would’ve
been one of those pesky off-to-the-side announcer types who do what they
do for such events. Remember Peter Coyote at the Oscars.

Word has it that preparations are already in the works to make next
year’s Festival Bigger, Better and Longer (a few days perhaps).